(The Center Square) – The goal of officials for next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago is safety for residents and visitors alike.
Security is being coordinated between the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, agencies with the state of Illinois, Cook County and Chicago officials from police and fire departments and the Office of Emergency Management. The overall taxpayer cost for the DNC next month and last week’s Republican National Convention is $150 million, or $75 million for each convention.
During a joint news conference with federal, state and local officials, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said they are policing to protect the First and Fourth Amendment rights of everyone inside and outside the DNC.
“What we will not tolerate is vandalism in our city. What we will not tolerate is violent activity,” Snelling said Thursday. “If we see that we will put an end to it quickly.”
As to protest groups, Snelling said authorities are in communication with some of them and he expects to be in communication with many more.
“It’s unpredictable who will arrive here. We’re willing to meet with any protest group to have that conversation to talk about expectations, to explain what it is we expect of them,” Snelling said.
Hundreds of law enforcement from other agencies, including from Milwaukee where the RNC wrapped up last week, will help with the DNC infrastructure.
“This will free up our officers, our Chicago police officers, to be in more volatile areas,” Snelling said. “This is our city and our officers are bound by particular rules, regulations and laws.”
Information about security perimeters and emergency alerts around the National Special Security Event can be found at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Street closures and heightened security will begin prior to the start of the convention Aug. 19 and run through the convention’s closing Aug. 22.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about the potential of thousands of more non-citizen migrants being transported to the city leading up to the convention as Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has signaled he will do.
“We have right now, currently, roughly 5,600 new arrivals that are still in our shelters. Our collective resources are prepared for as many as 15,000 but we certainly hope that Gov. Abbot finds Jesus Christ as his lord and savior and don’t do that,” Johnson said.
Earlier this week, Chicago city council members heard about how they have not budgeted for a surge of non-citizens that could be in the thousands.
